This is a platform that is capable of being stationed at any water depth from 0-200 metres to track the oceanic processes.

The robot has been designed to regularly record the water column information at every 10 to 25 cm during every profile four times a day.

The robot was tested during the recent voyage of RV Sindhu Sadhana, the latest state of the art research vessel of NIO.

The SREP robot has been designed particularly to carry out studies related to the monsoon, global climate and upwelling.

Upwelling is a phenomenon associated with the monsoon that sees the migration of deep sea oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) towards the coast.

It also brings the nutrient-rich water to the surface and enhances the biological productivity of the region.

Several sensors attached to SREP is capable of detecting the conditions associated with upwelling such as low temperature, low oxygen, high nutrients, and changes in density patterns etc.

This enables SREP to effectively track upwelling during June to September.

Upwelling is an important phenomenon for the ecosystem sustenance and fishery. Similarly, since south-west monsoon forms the backbone of the country’s economy, knowing the conditions for its onset forms one of the major goals of Seabed Resident Event Profiler.

The robot in its final configuration will be capable of sitting on the seabed for 100 days continuously to track the oceanic processes in the upcoming monsoon season.

CSIR-NIO: Know More

CSIR-NIO CSIR-NIO was established on 1 January 1966.

Its headquarters are at Dona Paula, Goa.

It has regional centres at Kochi, Mumbai and Visakhapatnam.

CSIR-NIO was established following the International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE) in the 1960s. CSIR-NIO primarily focuses on research over traditional branches of oceanography such as biological, chemical, geological/geophysical.

It also involves physical as well as over ocean engineering, marine instrumentation and marine archaeology.

2) Which state government prohibited names of government functionaries on foundation stones and plaques?

Explanation: Punjab government has prohibited the inclusion of names of the government functionaries, including ministers and MLAs, on foundation stones and inaugural plaques.

This is to build a stronger connect with the people by shedding the VIP culture.

The state government has clarified that though there is no bar on government functionaries and leaders attending or laying the foundation stone of any project, the practice of inscribing their names on foundation stones or plaques would be discarded with immediate effect.

Further, the order has clarified that henceforth all projects and programmes, including those inaugurated by the CM, would be “dedicated to the people of Punjab”.

The order comes at the backdrop of cabinet minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot threatening a government school principal over his name not being at the top of the inauguration plaque went viral on social media.

The chief minister of Punjab has been seen taking various initiatives to shed VIP culture in the state.

Singh and his cabinet ministers gave up the symbolic red beacon light on their vehicles, fulfilling a promise on the party’s election manifesto.

Punjab Government: Know More

Seat of Government : Chandigarh

Governor: Vijayendrapal Singh

Chief Minister: Amarinder Singh

LegislatureAssembly: Punjab Vidhan Sabha

Members in Assembly: 117

Judiciary

High Court: Punjab & Haryana High Court

Chief Justice: Justice Shiavax Jal Vazifdar (Acting Chief Justice)

3) Which Indian shuttler won the Singapore Open, his maiden Super series title?

Explanation: Promising Indian shuttler B Sai Praneeth clinched his maiden Super Series title at the Singapore Open after defeating compatriot K Srikanth in a historic all-Indian final on Sunday.

World No.30 Praneeth, who had won the Canada Open Grand Prix last year and reached the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold final this year, outmaneuvered Srikanth 17-21, 21-17, 21-12 in the summit clash of the $350,000 event.

It was the first time in the history of international badminton that two Indians were playing a Super Series final.

The two are trainees at the Gopichand academy run by ace coach, Pullela Gopichand.

Explanation: The Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), under the aegis of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, is set to launch its own portal and mobile app on April 17, 2017.

The portal is a one-stop for States’ Higher Education Plans, decision of the States’ Higher Education Councils and details of the resources under this scheme.

Also, the gallery is a rich repository of the projects initiated under RUSA.

Seventeen RUSA projects will also be launched tomorrow digitally.

They include:

cluster university in Jammu and Kashmir,

micro ATM facility at the RUSA centre for intelligent systems in Pune University,

solar power facility in Shree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, Kerala;

language laboratories in Ghatsila College, Jharkhand

A Fund and Reform Tracker for this centrally sponsored scheme will also be launched. The mobile application will ensure that all projects under RUSA are tracked 24x7.

29 States and 6 UTs are participating in RUSA.

Over 2000 State Universities and Colleges have been supported so far.

The National GER prior to the launch of RUSA was 20.8 (2012), with Male GER at 22.1 and Female GER at 19.4.

RUSA assistance has been critical in witnessing a growth in the GER.

A substantial increase in the National GER has been recorded at 24.5, with male GER at 25.4 and female GER at 23.5 in 2015-16, as per AISHE 2015-16)

States are also planning their education outlays in a better way. Prior to the formation of RUSA, 9 State Higher Education Councils were created by an Act of the legislature.

The States joined RUSA with a commitment to create State Higher Education Councils within a stipulated time indicated by them.

To date, 21 more States/UTs have already created State Higher Education Councils through an executive order and 5 more States have established State Higher Education Councils through an Act of the legislature.

Till date, out of 36 States and UTs, 34 States and UTs except Delhi and Lakshadweep have submitted their Higher Education Plan.

Each State has to prepare a State Higher Education Plan through a bottom-up approach in consultation with their key stakeholders.

RUSA: Know More

RUSA is the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of the Department of Higher Education, MHRD

It aims to provide strategic central funding to State Higher Education Departments and Institutions and achieve the broad objectives of access, equity and excellence.

The State Higher Education Departments and Institutions undertake certain governance, academic and administrative reforms as a pre-requisite to be entitled for RUSA grants.

The implementation of RUSA began after May 2014.

7) Which wrestler's father and coach was awarded the FICCI gender parity award on April 16, 2017?

Explanation: Mahavir Singh Phogat, a real life hero and father of wrestler Geeta Phoghat, along with Apollo Hospital founder Prathap C Reddy, won Ficci’s gender parity award for their contribution in harnessing the talents of their daughters.

Phogat was accompanied by his Commonwealth Games gold medal winner daughter Geeta at the event.

This marked the launch of the country’s first gender parity index by Ficci’s Ladies Organisation (FLO), which will